Vancouver 2010
The world's most awesome country will be hosting the 21st Winter Olympics. I have applied to volunteer at the Games, but if that doesn't work out, then I plan to be there as a spectator. Either way, it should be an incredible experience. More to follow. |
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Hiking the Adirondacks
The Adirondacks are a hiker's dream, with 46 beautiful peaks and dozens of interesting trails. I spent a week exploring the area, summiting 11 mountains (including the 3 highest in NY state) and hiking nearly 100km in the process. I also enjoyed great company at my two base camps: Adirondak Loj and John's Brook Lodge. Click on the image to the right to see my trails. |
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Cycling Across Canada:
A dream come true. This was my #1 goal since I was a kid. Back then, my bike gave me an awesome sense of freedom, and it still does. 2 ½ months outside (biking during the day, tenting in the bush at night) was an incredible experience. The landscape was rivalled only by the amazingly friendly people right across the country who invited me into their homes, served me huge meals and treated me as a lifelong friend. I did Victoria, BC to St John's NFLD, 8247 km, 81 days! More info here. |
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Racing a Solar Car Across Australia
Billed as the "Last Great Adventure of the Millennium", the 1999 World Solar Car Challenge was a 3010km race from Darwin to Adelaide across the great Australian outback. I was there as team manager of the University of Waterloo Midnight Sun Solar Race Car Team. Because I'm short enough to fit in the cockpit, I was also one of the 4 solar car drivers in Australia! Unfortunately, a breakdown in the car's motor some 400km from the finish line forced us to lose nearly 2 days, causing us to finish 25th out of 40 teams. Our perseverance did however win us the "Battler's Award" for the team that overcame the most obstacles to finish the race. I spent an enormous amount of time organizing the trip, but the 5 weeks in Australia was awesome and very worth it. |
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House of Commons Page
I was one of the 40 students selected to serve as a House of Commons Page for 1997-98 (first session of the 36th Parliament). My duties were both ceremonial (Speaker's Parade, Royal Assent, diplomatic functions) along with serving MPs and house officials (delivering documents and water). Highlights of the year included the first balanced budget after 27 years of deficits, a ceremony honouring the Canadian athletes of the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics and a ceremony at the end of the year honouring us, including a thank you speech from Speaker and a standing ovation from the House. I got to speak with both then Prime Minister Jean Chretien and then Governor General Romeo LeBlanc. The 40 of us continue to keep in touch with each other through a mailing list, sharing awesome stories of travel and adventure. |
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Skydiving
3 seconds or so after jumping, you reach a terminal velocity. At that point, you no longer feel like you are falling; you can do flips, rolls, you can fly! I jumped from 12,000 feet above Monterrey, California. I wasn't scared at all, though to be certain the adrenaline was pumping through me during the 15 minute flight up, as we looked down at the Rocky Mountains. Those first three seconds, however, were terrifying; I was falling, and there was nothing I could do about, and that just went against every instinct in my body. The next minute of freefall was amazing, everyone should experience flying sometime! After that came a relaxing 5-minute parachute ride enjoying the scenery before a perfect 1-step landing! |
Hiking the Grand Canyon
I had thought the Grand Canyon as just a hole in the ground, until I decided to hike to the bottom. This gave a chance to appreciate not only its massive size, but also its stunning colours, sheer beauty and hidden treasures. On this solo vacation, I spent a day on the South Rim, a day hiking to the bottom along the South Kaibob Trail, a day at the bottom along the Colorado river and then a day hiking back up by the Bright Angel Trail. My time at the bottom included incredible stargazing (while lying on a footbridge over the raging Colorado River), awesome company at Phantom Ranch and, of course, great hiking. |
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California Coast Road Trip
My friend Buddy and I rented a Mustang convertible and drove the California coastal highway from San Jose down to L.A., San Diego and eventually Tijuana, Mexico. The scenery along the coastal highway was breathtaking, and it was a fun road to drive too! In LA, we checked out downtown, Hollywood, and some of the more famous beaches. In San Diego, we visited the world-famous zoo. But the best of all was a night of partying across the border, in Tijuana! The next morning we went out for breakfast, but couldn't understand the Spanish menus, so we had to pick to something at random! |
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Montreal Bike Courier
Racing thru the streets of downtown Montreal, squeezing between a bus and an 18-wheeler, while trying to read my pager; this job was constantly a thrill, and perfectly suited to me, as I love to ride aggressively. Of course, I did get into a couple of accidents; one of them kind of serious: I broke 9 bones, including 3 vertebrae in my neck, 4 ribs, and 2 shoulder bones in a collision with a car but I recovered amazingly well and, much to the disbelief of my doctors, was back at work just 5 weeks later! The job itself is unbelievably hard work and the pay is peanuts but there is a small group of very interesting people who love this job, and I was glad to meet them and count myself amongst their ranks! |